Minister Drucker: 2026 Will Be Ground-breaking for Education (2)

Bratislava, 14 January (TASR) - The year 2026 will be a turning point for education, as Slovakia is beginning to implement the biggest education reform in the past 20 years, Education Minister Tomas Drucker (Voice-SD) told a press conference on Wednesday, with three state secretaries in attendance. The education reform in Slovakia includes a comprehensive set of laws that were approved by the government and Parliament last year. "It's designed to give our children a better chance at education and a better future, and to ensure the success of the Slovak economy. It addresses all areas - from early childhood, from so-called pre-primary education and attendance at nursery schools, primary and secondary schools, to higher education - and these things aren't enough to be described somewhere in laws; they need to be implemented," said the minister. The fundamental pillar of the reform is equal opportunities for every child from an early age. The gradual expansion of compulsory pre-primary education should help to reduce inequalities even before children start primary school, while also guaranteeing a real right to a place in a nursery school. The reform modernises education at secondary schools and universities. Changes are being prepared for secondary schools, including a mandatory two-level school-leaving exam as of 2027 and the strengthening of vocational education via centres of excellence. Universities will see a modern legislative framework with a lower administrative burden, compulsory PhD schools, greater flexibility for students and a stronger link between study and practice. Special attention has been paid to safety at school. The reform introduces new tools to address the shortage of teachers through a new post of 'teacher candidate', speeds up the certification process, and, for the first time, provides systemic protection for the mental health of teachers and students directly in the law. The changes also include strengthening protection against attacks, coercion and slander. The reform also aims to reduce red tape and enable the transition to a digital state. A unified e-Application platform and automated data exchange are intended to eliminate paperwork and free up time to work with students. "I realise that such changes raise questions. That's why we have a clear timetable and sufficient transition periods so that schools and founders can adapt," said the minister. In addition to the reform itself, the ministry has several specific priorities for 2026. The most important is implementing curricular reform in all primary schools and, at the same time, preparing proposed changes for secondary schools so that the changes are reflected in what children actually learn and so that the reform makes sense in real life, not just on paper. Other priorities include safety and prevention, drafting a law on protecting young people from radicalisation and extremism, a national strategy for supporting talent, and the systematic use of artificial intelligence in education. The aim is for artificial intelligence to help reduce administration, support tailored learning, while at the same time avoiding the creation of new inequalities. Another important topic will be the optimisation of the primary school network with the setting up of a sustainable network and high-quality accessibility, which the ministry will work on in cooperation with partners in accordance with the memorandum. NOTE: This story has been extended to include the final three paragraphs. am/df